Creative, Divergent Thinking (C#2) Creative thinking is a process of opening up possibilities and options. When we talked about divergent thinking – developing options, taking different points of view, using different criteria etc. the natural body language is to move our hands apart representing “opening up.” This body language gesture helps us “feel and see” the divergent process and how it is different from the critical, convergent thinking. There are many types of creative, divergent thinking. Here are eight of those types we are learning to use where needed in the problem solving process: ü BRAINSTORM – generating ideas and options ü CLEVER DETECTIVE: Observing more closely and in more detail – with more of your senses – observe more deeply ü CONNECTIONS: Making new connections, finding new patterns, finding new relationships ü BRIGHT IDEA: Constructing a new unifying idea or generalization ü BETTER MOUSETRAP: Making something that works better and is more appealing to a particular audience ü IN YOUR SHOES: Taking a different point of view – consider multiple, diverse points of view ü WHAT IF?: Using different criteria to make a decision or plan or product. Ask “what ifs”– If …. was true or if ….. changed, how would that impact ……….? ü ROAD LESS TRAVELED: Using a different, unique, unexpected way to solve the problem When we observe the work done through a creative, divergent process, we can evaluate its quality using these four elements: (adapted from the work of E. Paul Torrance) ü Fluent – easily and quickly produces many, diverse thoughts/ideas/plans/solutions/etc. – “wild and crazy” ideas are OK, does not edit self or others during this process ü Flexible – flows among divergent thinking processes to keep ideas flowing; makes connections between / among ideas, approaches, plans, etc. ü Original – produces original, unexpected, uncommon ideas and connections – resulting products and/or processes perceived as new and useful -- knocks your socks off! ü Elaborate – adds diverse and varied details to enrich original ideas/connections; adds complexity Stages, e.g., life cycle, of a creative, divergent thinking process. (adapted the work of Graham Wallas) ü Exploration – a general investigation “around” the issues in the problem to be solved – let your exploration take you where it wants to take you – be open to unexpected twists and turns in this research ü Preparation – explore the dimensions of the problem, consider a number of alternatives, options, ideas, etc. – play with them, sketch them, write about them, build some possibilities – no editing – the point is to be fluent ü Incubation – step away from the problem for a while, do something else, do not consciously think about the problem – let your subconscious “mull them around” ü Illumination – one of the collection of options developed during preparation which has been incubating will “light up” – become illuminated – you will select it as the “best of the bunch” – at least for now – this selection may come to you “out of the blue like a bolt of lightning,” or be a connection to something else you experience, “Eureka!,” or come to you when you sit down to review the options and “walla!” ü Verification -- this is the beginning of a critical, convergent thinking process that follows each creative, divergent process – you may find that the “illuminated” idea that you selected was the best and continue to work on that pathway towards – or – through verification, you may find that the idea you selected did not work out so you recycle back to the creative process of finding another idea
Creative thinking is a process of opening up possibilities and options.
When we talked about divergent thinking – developing options, taking different points of view, using different criteria etc. the natural body language is to move our hands apart representing “opening up.” This body language gesture helps us “feel and see” the divergent process and how it is different from the critical, convergent thinking.
There are many types of creative, divergent thinking. Here are eight of those types we are learning to use where needed in the problem solving process:
ü BRAINSTORM – generating ideas and options
ü CLEVER DETECTIVE: Observing more closely and in more detail – with more of your senses – observe more deeply
ü CONNECTIONS: Making new connections, finding new patterns, finding new relationships
ü BRIGHT IDEA: Constructing a new unifying idea or generalization
ü BETTER MOUSETRAP: Making something that works better and is more appealing to a particular audience
ü IN YOUR SHOES: Taking a different point of view – consider multiple, diverse points of view
ü WHAT IF?: Using different criteria to make a decision or plan or product. Ask “what ifs”– If …. was true or if ….. changed, how would that impact ……….?
ü ROAD LESS TRAVELED: Using a different, unique, unexpected way to solve the problem
When we observe the work done through a creative, divergent process, we can evaluate its quality using these four elements: (adapted from the work of E. Paul Torrance)
ü Fluent – easily and quickly produces many, diverse thoughts/ideas/plans/solutions/etc. – “wild and crazy” ideas are OK, does not edit self or others during this process
ü Flexible – flows among divergent thinking processes to keep ideas flowing; makes connections between / among ideas, approaches, plans, etc.
ü Original – produces original, unexpected, uncommon ideas and connections – resulting products and/or processes perceived as new and useful -- knocks your socks off!
ü Elaborate – adds diverse and varied details to enrich original ideas/connections; adds complexity
Stages, e.g., life cycle, of a creative, divergent thinking process. (adapted the work of Graham Wallas)
ü Exploration – a general investigation “around” the issues in the problem to be solved – let your exploration take you where it wants to take you – be open to unexpected twists and turns in this research
ü Preparation – explore the dimensions of the problem, consider a number of alternatives, options, ideas, etc. – play with them, sketch them, write about them, build some possibilities – no editing – the point is to be fluent
ü Incubation – step away from the problem for a while, do something else, do not consciously think about the problem – let your subconscious “mull them around”
ü Illumination – one of the collection of options developed during preparation which has been incubating will “light up” – become illuminated – you will select it as the “best of the bunch” – at least for now – this selection may come to you “out of the blue like a bolt of lightning,” or be a connection to something else you experience, “Eureka!,” or come to you when you sit down to review the options and “walla!”
ü Verification -- this is the beginning of a critical, convergent thinking process that follows each creative, divergent process – you may find that the “illuminated” idea that you selected was the best and continue to work on that pathway towards – or – through verification, you may find that the idea you selected did not work out so you recycle back to the creative process of finding another idea